Frequently Asked Questions for Finalists
Congratulations on making it to the finals of the Love Barrow Awards!
By now you should have made it through your first interview with Amanda. We appreciate that you will have lots of questions and many will come to you after you have left the interview, so we have put together this Frequently Asked Questions section to help answer our most asked questions about being part of the awards.
We hope that you find the information you are looking for but if you still have a question that has not been answered, please get in touch.
What are the Love Barrow Community Awards?
For over 20 Years the Love Barrow Community Awards have celebrated the people, groups, and organisations that make our locality stronger. Each finalist has been nominated by someone who believes their story deserves to be shared and celebrated. As a finalist, you play an important role in the event — your story helps inspire others, it builds local pride, and shows what’s possible when people care for their community. Our team will guide you through every step, from filming your short video to enjoying the Awards Night itself. You don’t need to be anything other than the fantastic finalist you already are — just enjoy being part of a night that celebrates what’s strong in Furness and the South Lakes.
When and where are the 2026 awards?
The 2026 Love Barrow Awards will take place on:
Friday 13th March 2026 | 6.30pm - 11.00pm
The Canvendish Suite
Abbey House Hotel, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA13 0PA
There is free parking available at the hotel and disabled access.
How many tickets do I get?
You will receive 2 free tickets, one for yourself and one for a guest. The only exception to this is our Young Citizen Finalists, who receive 3 free tickets.
Your tickets will arrive early in the new year to the address you gave Amanda at your interview. If you have changed address since, please let Amanda know asap.
Click Amanda’s email below to send an email.
Can I get Extra Tickets?
At your interview you were asked if you would like to be put on the waiting list for extra tickets. An email will be sent out in the new year asking you to fill out a form to confirm how many extra tickets you would like.
The maximum extra tickets you can request is 4. So including your 2 free tickets you would have a maximum of 6 people in your party.
We will do out best to make sure everyone gets what they request, but there are a limited number of extra tickets, so please get your request in as quickly as possible.
There is a small cost for extra tickets to help us cover the cost of the meal. This is currently £30 per ticket. All extra tickets will need to be paid for before the event.
If you feel you may struggle finically to cover this extra cost, please speak to Amanda privately.
What should I wear?
There is no official dress code for the awards. We advise people to think about it as if you were going to a wedding celebration in the evening. So wear what you feel comfortable in but please feel free to come as fabulous as you would like.
If you are still unsure, check out the past photos on our Facebook page from last year to see what everyone else was wearing by clicking the link below.
Love Barrow Awards 2026 Photos
Who will I be sat with?
You will be sat with your with all of your guests, even if you have requested extra tickets.
Each table seats 10, so you may also be sat with other finalists and our sponsors.
I have special dietary requirements - How do I let you know?
When your tickets are sent out, you will receive a copy of the menu so you can check what will be served. There will be a vegetarian option and the hotel is able to cater for vegans and allergies.
The menu will have a QR Code to scan for you to be able to fill out your dietary requirements and let the hotel know about any allergies.
You can choose a vegetarian meal, even if you are not vegetarian.
It is important to note that when you arrive, you should not swap your place cards over to another seat, as you will end up with the wrong meal you have requested.
We have our own event or raffle we’d like to publicise, can I bring flyers or sell tickets at the awards evening?
We politely ask that you do not bring anything with you that is for promotion of your own organisation or events including the sale of raffle tickets.
We hold our own raffle on the evening to raise funds for a chosen local organisation.
What happens at the awards? Do I have to do anything?
When you arrive at Abbey House Hotel
Make your way to The Cavendish Suite. You will be met by one of the team who will ask to take you ticket so you can be checked in. You will be given your table number also.
Have your photo taken with your guests, you will be able to share this copy from social media after the event.
Enjoy a range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks from the bar and say hi to people you may know.
Seated for dinner
Take your seats and enjoy a two course meal with your guests and chat with the people on your table.
When the awards begins
The awards is split into two halves to allow for a comfort break. During the first half the following awards will be presented in the following order.
1st Half
Student of the Year
Community Focused Business of the Year
Teacher of the Year
Carer of the Year
The Oak Tree Award
Spirit of Collaboration Award
2nd Half
Group or Project of the Year
Citizen of the Year
Young Citizen of the Year
The People’s Choice Award
The Love Barrow Awards Ambassador of the Year
When your category is announced
The host will announce the category. We will then watch a message from the sponsor followed by the video you have filmed with the team.
The host will then invite the sponsor to the stage. The sponsor will announce the winners name.
If your name is called out as the winner
Please make you way to the stage area. You will receive a trophy for the sponsor.
You will be encouraged to say a few words. We would really appreciate it if you could take a moment to say a few words, even if it is just simply thankyou to everyone for supporting you.
You will then wait onstage with the sponsor.
If you are the finalists
You will be invited up to the stage to receive your trophy. You do not have to say anything.
After the presentation
You will be guided off stage by a member of the team and taken out to the foyer where you will have photos taken.
Parents may join their Young Citizen finalists in the foyer but our team has members who are DBS checked and will be responsible for your child for the short period of time they are in the foyer.
After the photos
A member of our team will guide you back into the event at a suitable point so as not to disturb the following category videos playing.
Enjoy the rest of your evening!
Can I have a copy of the photos or my video?
During the awards, the finalist videos will be posted on Facebook, around the same time ( internet connection dependant ) as they are played in the event.
All photos from the event are posted within around 24 hrs of the event on social media.
You are welcome to share the photos and videos from social media and we encourage you to share and tag the awards in any personal photos you take yourself on the evening.
If you are not on Facebook, you are more than welcome to reach out to Amanda who will be able to share the photos with you so you can have a copy of your finalist and arrival photos.
We encourage finalists to use the photos and videos as part of your funding / marketing packs moving forward. The videos will be available to share from Facebook and our Official You Tube Channel.
If you require a separate version of your video for upload to a funding application, please reach out to Amanda.
I have another question?
If you have question which has not been answered above, please contact Amanda. Please remember that contacting Amanda via our social media channels will mean that your question will be seen by other team members, so if you wish to keep it private, please use the link below or the contact details you have for Amanda.